Means for hanging and centralizing overdriven centrifugal machines.



No. 820,851. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

GIDINKEL. MEANS FOR HANGING AND UBNTRALIZING OVERDRIVBN GENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1905.

F a s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\mmamdw WIFE/MAD [xx-U.

X. swag PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

G. DINKEL. MEANS FOR HANGING AND GENTRALIZING OVERDRIV EN GENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

eEone DINKEL, or JEnsEY our. NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR HANGING AND CENTRALIZING OVERDRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES.

No. e20,e51.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteu. May 15, 1906.

Application filed August 13,1905. Serial No. 274,666.

To nil-7, whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE DINKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, Hudson county, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Hanging and Centralizing Overdriven Centrifugal Ma chines, of which the following is 'a specification suflicient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to apparatus in which the basket is suspended, upon a single (preferably solid) rotatable spindle supported above the basket and centralized by means situated above said paint of support, as in my concurrent application, Serial No. 190,803, filed January 27, 1904, and is designed to afford greater leverage and power combinedall lateral strain that would otherwise be im parted through the medium of the drivingpulley. The invention consists, further, in a resilient centralizing bearing of special construction arranged above the plane of support of said spindle, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed in detail.

The main difficulty heretofore encountered in overdriven centrifugals in dispensing with the old arrangement of two-spindle machine in which a hollow rotatable spindle carrying the basket and driving-pulley is supported upon a stationary spindle and substituting in lieu thereof a single solid rotatable spindle has been the lack of a suitable centralizing device for the latter. This I obviate in my concurrent application, hereinbefore referred to, bythe use of a cylindrical rubber buffer surrounding the single rotatable spindle above the point of support of the latter; but while this arrangement is operative and prac' tical it is subject to limitations and restrictions. which I overcome in my present construction. For instance, unless the rubber constituting the cylindrical bufler is perfectly homogeneous throughout its compres- To this end the sion is apt to cause more tension at one place than on another, tending to throw the shaft and basket out of alinement. Furthermore, the cylindrical rubber buffer is necessarily restricted to a position in proximity to the point of support of the rotatable spindle, since the lateral play or movement afforded by it is limited to a comparatively small area. These limitations I obviate by my improved form of centralizing device, which may be ap-- plied to the single rotatable spindle a greater distance above the point of support thereof as compared With the cylindrical rubber buffor and in which also provision is made for an extensive and accurate adjustment of the tension on all sides. As a consequence greater leverage may be exercised in centralizing the spindle, resulting in less frictional resistance and requiring less power to drive the machine.

Another advantage attained by my improved construction and arrangement of centralizing device is that it is capable of adjustment to regulate the tension at all times, whether the machine is at rest or in motion, and as each of the several spring-buflers is independently adjustable it is obvious that great accuracy can be attained in centralizing and preserving the alinement of the single rotatable spindle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional elevation of an overdriven centrifugal supported and centralized according to my present invention; Fig. 2, a plan of the centralizing device; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation taken upon plane of line 3 3, Fig. 2, showing a slightly-modified means for suspending the spindle. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, upon an enlarged scale, showing a. preferred form of centralizingcollar. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification of the invention embodied in a simpler form and arrangement of parts. Fig. 6 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

A is a socket-piece or hanger, secured by its flanges a to any suitable stationary elevated support and formed at its lower extremity with a semiglobular bearing-cup or socket 0/, provided with a lining a of Babbitt metal or other antifriction composition. Resting in this concave bearing-surface a, is a hemispherical bearing B, on which is supported an oil-cup B, Resting upon an annular seat 11, formed for its support in the oilcupB',.is an annular bearingplatec, formed upon its upper side with an annular groove 0 for the reception of the antifriction-rollers at (Z, which in turn support the annular plate I].

In Figs. 1 and 3 the annular bearing-plate C is shown as provided with an annular facing 0, in which the annular groove 0 is formed, said facing a being replaced when necessary to compensate for wear, the annular plate C and its facing 0 being keyed or otherwise locked together to constitute practically one piece, to all intents and purposes answering the same function. as that shown in Fig. 5, and the said annular,bearingplate C being keyed to the hemispherical bearing through the medium of the oil-cup B by one or more pins 6 or otherwise held against rotation on said hemispherical bearing B, and in like manner the annular plate E is keyed by studs for otherwise secured to the bearingnut F.

In the simpler forms (shown in Figs. 3 and 5) the female screw of the bearing-nut F engages directly with the male screw-thread g,

ormed'on the rotatable spindle G, and therei by sustains the latter through the medium of 'the.plate E, resting upon the antifrictionrollers 11. In Fig. 1 the same result is at tained by the engagement of the female screw-thread of the bearing-nut F with the male screw-thread h on the sleeve H, which is formed with a female screw-thread h for engagement with the male screw-thread g of the'spindle G, being locked thereon bya nut In either construction the bearing-nut F is locked in position by a nut I, F Figs. 3 and 5, and is formed with an annular seat f for the reception of the annular 'plate E.

The rotatable spindle G is preferably, though not necessarily, made solid. To its lower extremity is rigidly secured the basket J held in place upon the threaded end of the spindle G by jam nuts j i. K indicates the usual power or brake pulley, secured rigidly to the spindle G. The latter may be rotated by power applied in any appropriate manner, as by belts or pulleys, gearing an electric motor having its rotor attached to the spindle G and its stator supported in concentric bearings, as set forth in my application, Serial No. 114,358, filed July 5, 1902, or by any mechanical expedient which may be availe able. In any case, and especially where power is applied by belt to the pulley K, I prefer to hlterpose between the spindle-suspending be'aring constituted by the plates C and E and rollers d and the hemisphercial bearings B a an antifriction-beaiing, which will take up the lateral strain exerted'at right angles to the axes of. the spindle, thus relieving the suspending-bearings C E d of all tendency to lateral displacement and wear, and thereby greatly reduce the frictional resistance to be overcome in operating the centrifugal.

lel to the axis of the spindle.

This I accomplish by the use of two horizontally-disposed concentric bearingrings L and M, between the opposed vertical surfaces of which are interposed antifrictionrollers m, one ring L being attached to the prevent its transmission to the plate C, rollers cl, and plate E, so that the bearing-sur faces of the latter will have to sustain only the longitudinal strain or that exerted paral- It is to be noted particularly in this connection that this lateral antifriction bearing is interposed in reality between the spindle (the nut F or sleeve H, as the case may be, being rigidly secured to said spindle) and the hemispherical bearing B (since the oil-cup B is rigidly secured to the latter) and that the rings L and M are concentric to each other and the spindle and occupy the same transverse plane with relation thereto. lateral antifriction-bearing is situated and acts at right angles to the spindlesuspending bearing above it, and all lateral pressure exerted by the spindle is borne by the opposed broad surfaces-of the concave seat a and of the non rotatable hemispherical bearing B, the motion of which latter, as in my concurrent application, hereinbefore referred to, is limited by studs a on the hanger A, which project into recesses b in said bearing, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 1, 3, and 5. While the oscillation of the bearing B upon its seat a? is thus restricted within prescribed bounds and any tendency of the bearing to yield or rotate with the spindle is counteracted, still the extent of play is suflicient for all practical purposes, since very slight space or clearance-between the sides of the recesses b and thestuds a will, owing to their proximity to the hemispheric center of support, allow considerable deviation of the spindle G from the vertical or plumb.

My improved resilient centralizing device is applied to the spindle G above the male screw g, and hence above both the supporting-bearings B a and thesuspending-bearing or bearing of rotation, as well as above the basket, and this is an important feature in the combination and arrangement of parts described and claimed herein and distinguishes the invention from centrifugal Inachines in which a centralizing device is applied to a single solid spindle between t e asket and point of support below the bas- In other words, this only,

ket, as well as from those which a centralizing device is applied below the center of support and between the latter and the basket.

The device consists, essentially, of a bearing-sleeve N, connected with a plurality of radially-arranged resilient buffers or tensionrods T or T upon or in conjunction with which are arranged a series of coiled or equivalent springs S, the form or structure of the springs S being obviously of secondary importance provided they afford the necessary resilience and are arranged so as to tend constantly to maintain the bearin '-sleeve N or N and consequently the spindle G, in a prescribed normal position. Thus cylindrical rubber springs might be substituted for the spiral steel springs shown, ii." desired, with like result; but metallic springs are preferable under ordinary conditions of use.

The tension-rods T or T are pivotally connected to the bearing-sleeve N or N at their inner ends, and their outer extremities pass through stationary guide-posts P,'between which and the heads t of the rods are interposed the springs S, substantially as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the simplest form of my resilient centralizing device is illustrated. lln this case the springs act as resilient buffers which are compressed under excess of pressure and tend constantly to push. the spindle into correct alinement. The tension of these sprin s is regulated by compressing them more or ess by means of adjustable end rests p, the shanks of which screw into the guide-posts P, and the extent of motion or play of the rods T or T inward is re ulated by means oi. adjustable stops or shou lders t on the outer ends of said rods beyond the guide-posts.

As before stated, in the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the springs S tend constantly to push or return the spindle into position.

l find by experience that it is desirable in certain cases not only to push the spindle back into position when it deviates therefrom, but also to prevent, in so far as is ossible, its swaying from the desired vertical alinement, and hencel arrange supplemental tension or pulling springs S on the outer extremities of the rods T and between the guide-posts P and adjustable rests s on the outer extremitiesof said rods, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which views also the inner or push springs S are shown as bearing at their inner ends a ainst adjustable rests s on the rods T instead of directly against the heads of the latter, as in Figs. 5 and 6. It is obvious that these supplemental tension-springs S will act in conjunction with the push-springs S on the opposite side of the spindle to maintain the latter in a vertical position.

The adjustable stops or rests s s are neterably made in the form of jam-nuts, an the adjustment of the tension of the several springs may be effected while the centrifugal till is in operation, if desired. Furthermore, the tension of each spring may be regulated independent of the others, thus affording delicacy and accuracy of adjustment in centralizing the spindle and maintaining it in such position.

In Fi 5 the oil-cup is designated E the upper p ate for the rollers is designated E and the lower plate is designated 0*.

The bearing-collar may consist of a plain cylindrical sleeve, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or it may be provided with antifriction-bearings, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which case a bearing-ring g is secured to the spindle by means of a retaining-flange q, and antifrietion-rollers r r are interposed between said bearing-ring g and an opposed bearing-ring a, seated in the bearing-collar, or any equivalent or well-known mechanical expedient for reducing friction may be interposed between. the bearing-collar and the rotatable spindle G.

The placing of the centralizing mechanism a greater distance than heretofore above the bearings of support and rotation increases its leverage with relation to the hemispherical supporting-bearing considered as the fulcrum, and lam thus enabled to more e[l'ec tually counteract and control the tendency of the basket to gyrate. This I render possible by the use of a relatively large number of tension arms and sprin s which admit of a con siderable degree of ateral play, so that the upper end of the single rotatable spindle may be journaled a suflicient distance above the point of support to insure the minimum of motion, frictional, resistance, and wear. Under these conditions less power is requ red to drive the machine and its life is prolonged.

It is obvious that, as in the case of my concurrent application No. 190,803, hereinbefore referred to, the hemispherical bearing B and its seat a constitute a universal joint, by which term, as a matter of convenience, they are desi nated in the claims.

In using the term overhung centrifugal apparatus I mean to designate machines in which the basket or its equivalent is. suspended upon a spindle below the point of sup port of the latter.

It will be noted that the spindle is sus' pended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing-supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint above the hemispherical center thereof.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint the suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint, and a lateral bearing interposed between said spindle, on one side and said universal oint upon the other, one portion of which is mounted rigidly though indirectly upon the spindle and a resilient centralizing device acting on said spindle above said joint and bearing for the purpose described, said centralizing device comprising independently-movable tensionrods.

2. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint above the hemispherical center thereof, and a resilient centralizing device acting on said spindle above said joint and bearing the suspension of said spindle being directlyon said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint, and a lateralbearing interposed between said spindle, on one side and said universal joint upon the other one portion of which is mounted rigidly though indirectly upon the spindle for the purpose described said centralizing device conprising independently-movable tensionre s.

3. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upona bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint the suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint, and a laterally-disposed antifriction-bearing interposed between said spindle on one side and said universal oint on the other for the purpose described.

4. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal oint above the hemispherical center thereof, the suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal oint, and a laterallydisposed antifriction-bearing interposed between said spindle on one side and said universal joint on the other above and in proximity to said joint for the purpose described.

5. In overhung centrifugal a paratus, the combination of a single spind e suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal ,joint, horizontallydisposed means for restricting the oscillation of the universal joint, and a resilient centralizing device acting on said spindle above said joint and bearing and a lateral bearing interposed between said spindle on one side and said universal joint upon the other one portion of which is mounted rigidly though indirectly upon the spindle for the purpose described.

6. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended smear upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal oint, above the hemispherical center thereof, the suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation said universal j oint, horizontallydisposed means for restricting the oscillation of the universal joint, and a resilient centralizing device acting on said spindle above said joint and bearing and a lateral bearing interposed between said spindle on one side and said universal joint upon the other, one portion of which is mounted rigidly though indirectly upon the spindle for the purpose described.

7. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal oint, horizontally-disposed .means for restricting the oscillation of the universal joint, and a laterally disposed antifrictionbearing interposed between said spindle on one side and said universal joint on the other, for thepurpose described. v j

8. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, above thehemispherical center thereof, the-suspension of said spindle being directly on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint, horizontallydisposed means for restricting-the oscillation of the universal joint, and a laterally-disposed antifrictionbearing interposed .between said spindle on one side and said universal joint on the other above and in proximity to said joint for the purpose described.

9. In overhungcentrifugal. a paratus, the combination of a single rotatab e s indie-suspended upon a universal joint sai universal joint, and a resilient centralizing dev ce connected directly with thespindle above said universal joint and comprising a bearingcollar encircling said s indlefrictionrejducing means between sai collarand the-spindle and a plurality of radially-arranged springtension bars, for the purpose described.

10. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint androtatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of the spindle being directly upon the said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint and a resilient centralizing deviceconnected directly with the spindle above said bearing of suspension and said universal joint and cornprisinga bearing-collar encircling sald spindle friction-reducing means between said collar and the spindle and a plurality of, radiallyaaaesr pring-te'rision bars for the purpose said universal joint, the suspension of the spindle being directly upon the said bearing, and a resilient centralizmg device connected directly with the spindle above said bearing of suspension and said universal joint and consistlng of a bearing-collar encircling said spindle friction-reducing means between said 001- lar and the spindle and a plurality of radiallyarranged spring-tension bars, together with means for adjusting the tension of the springs, for the purpose described.

12. In overhung centrifugal a paratus, the combination of a single spind e suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of the spindle being directly upon the said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint, horizontally-disposed means for restricting the oscillation of said universal joint, and a resilient centralizing device connected directly with the spindle above said bearing of suspension and said universal oint and comprising a bearing-collar encircling said spindle friction-reducing means between said collar and the spindle and a lurality of radiallyarran ed spring-tension are for the purpose described.

13. In overhung centrifugal apparatus the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal (joint and rotatable upon a bearing supporte upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of the spindle being directly upon said bearing, said bearing of rotation, said universal oint, a resilient centralizing device connected with the spindle above said bearing of suspension and said universal joint, said centralizing device consisting of a bearing-collar encircling said spindle and a plurality of radially-arranged spring-tension arms, together with an antifriction -bearing interposed between said bearing-collar and said spindle for the purpose described.

14. In overhung centrifugal a paratus, the combination of a single spind e suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of the spindle being directly upon said bearing, said bearin of rotation, said universal joint, a lateral y-disposed antifriction-bearing interposed between said spindle on one side and said universal joint on the other, and a resilient centralizing device connected with the spindle above said bearing of suspension, uni- I versal joint and laterally-disposed antifriction-bearing, said centralizing device comprising a bearing-collar encircllng the spindle and a plurality of radially-arranged springtension arms for the purpose described.

15. In overhung centrifugal a paratus, the combination of a single spindib suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the suspension of the spindle being directly u on said bearing, said bearing of rotation, sai universal oint, a resilient centralizing device connected with the spindle above said bearing of suspension and said universal 'oint, said centralizing device com rising a earing-collar encircling said spin 1e and a lurality of radially-arranged spring-tension bars, each provided with two springs, one arranged to push the bar inward centrally and the other arranged to pull the bar outward radially for the purpose described.

15. In overhung centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a single spindle suspended upon a universal joint and rotatable upon a bearing supported upon and supplemental to said universal joint, the sus ension of the spindle being directly upon said caring, said bearing of rotation, said universal joint, a resilient centralizing device connected with the spindle above said bearing of suspension and said universal joint, said centralizing device consisting of a bearing-collar encircling said spindle and a lurality of radially-arranged spring-tension bars, each provided with two springs, one arranged to push the bar inward centrally and the other arranged to pull the bar outward radially, together with means for regulating the tension of the said springs for the purpose described.

GEORGE DINKEL.

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MIATL. 

